Help Your Child with Math

by Columbia Lee

How quickly can you calculate simple mathematic problems? Can you do mental arithmetic easily, for example, could you calculate the interest you pay on your home in your head? Do you love mathematics? If you feel positive about Math does this help your child at home? Children can learn to love mathematics.

Math learning is great fun at home. You don’t need specialized resources. Everything you need is in your home at this moment. You need enthusiasm and a creative mind to find math opportunities.

What a gift to be able to do mental arithmetic easily and accurately. This gift can be used dozens of times every day to calculate mathematical problems. Math can happen at home just as well as it can happen at school.

Every day we are calculating. Just think about it. From the moment your alarm goes you are estimating the time required to complete breakfast and get to work. You check the thermometer to see how cold or hot it is. When you run your microwave you decide how many seconds and minutes you should use. You check your wallet or purse to see how much money you have for the day.

There is a body of evidence that suggests that many children are unable to estimate a reasonable answer. With the growing use of calculators and computers, children are losing the capacity to decide what a reasonable answer is. They need to be able to calculate for themselves so they don’t over rely on electronic equipment.

No one questions the power and convenience of calculators and computers in solving complex mathematics. The problem is, as they say in computing, garbage in and garbage out. Children need to know the operation to solve a math problem. They must have some idea of what a good answer might be. They need to be able to think mathematically.

Start to find the fun in math with your child today. Help them to learn and enjoy applying math thinking to everyday situations. Make a game of it. Estimate the outside temperature and check with your thermometer. Guess the weight of your shopping and then weigh the parcels. Having fun with math with your child can develop a real love of number problems and thinking.

You can do dozens of things at home if you really think creatively. Using a thermometer is a great resource. Develop a simple graph showing the temperature changes over a month. Check the thermometer every morning at breakfast and every night at dinner. See what the temperature differences are between those 10 hours. You’ll be amazed at how much your children enjoy this fun activity.

When you go on a trip with your family, rather than confront endless questions of – how long before we get there – think of playing some simple number games. Calculate the distances from town to town. Work out how many miles per gallon you are getting. Calculate the gas cost of the trip. Compare the number of SUVs with cars that pass you. Make the trip fun through lively number problems.

Encourage your children to talk about how they solve math problems. Help them to think about their math thinking. This is called metacognition – thinking about thinking. Think what processes and strategies they used to reason out a solution. Even very young children can do this. Build a positive attitude to math by incorporating math tasks and thinking into everyday activities. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how quickly your child will develop a love for math.

About the Author:

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.